Romancing Dr. Bailey

Nights Like This

Miranda woke up to Ben staring at her. "Good morning," he said smiling and kissing her cheek.

"Yeah, well, for someone, I suppose, but I hardly got any sleep," she said checking her alarm clock. It was really early. She groaned. She was still tired. She had tossed and turned all night. She told Ben this.

"I know. I'm sleeping right next to you," he said with a smile. Miranda returned it with a weak one of her own. "Thinking about Tami?" He asked pushing hair out of her face.

Miranda nodded. "I feel so bad and so responsible, Ben."

He reached for her hand under the covers. "Don't, okay? It was an accident. You couldn't have stopped it."

"We could have just come back to the house like I told Francine we would."

"Yeah, but she still could have gotten injured," Ben said talking softly.

"If it were Tuck, I would be fuming. I would be furious."

"You would be, but I would remind you that it was an accident." He squeezed her hand and kissed her cheek one more time. He started to get out of the bed.

"Where are you going?" She asked with wide eyes.

"Well, I figured that you wouldn't—what if Tuck...?" He stopped talking and stared at her. She was smiling. "Do you...want me to go?"

She shook her head. "It wouldn't be the first time that he's seen us in bed together." Ben looked confused. "Baltimore."

"Oh, but that was under mitigating circumstances."

"I don't mind," she said putting a hand on his chest. Ben winked at her and threw back the covers. "But you're still leaving?" She couldn't hide her disappointment.

Ben slipped on his shirt. "No, I'm just going to the bathroom, sweetheart." She giggled and once he was out of sight, she sighed, full of relief. She definitely didn't want him to go, but she wouldn't have begged him to stay.

When he was back in the bed, she snuggled up next to him. In his arms, she fell asleep again. When she woke up for the second time, Tuck was an inch from her face. She jumped. "Hi!" He said brightly.

"Hey," she said slowly, looking over her shoulder to see Ben with his back to her, still snoring. Tuck was jittery. "What's up?"

"I have boxing. Daddy's coming to get me, right?" Miranda nodded. "But I want to go and see Tami."

She cracked her neck. "I'm sure your father wouldn't mind stopping by the hospital before and after your lesson." Miranda got out of the bed. She hugged her son and kissed the top of his head.

"Can you tell him?"

"Okay. But for now, go and get dressed and packed." Tuck danced out of her room. "Good morning, Ben!!" He screamed before closing the door to her room. Miranda could hear her son laughing as her boyfriend was roused out of his sleep.

"Whaa?" He said squinting over his shoulder.

"Nothing," she said smiling at him. He dropped his head back on the pillow. Miranda showered and brushed her teeth. She wrapped a towel around her body. When she emerged from the bathroom, Ben was sitting up in the bed, watching TV.

He stared at her and licked his lips. She sat on the edge of her bed. "Dreams do come true," he said to the ceiling. Ben closed in on her and kissed her neck and her back which were still speckled with water. Chills ran up and down her spine. "What are you wearing under that towel?" He asked in her ear. She shook her head. "Can I take a look?' Miranda swallowed as Ben touched her towel gently.